USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 81
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TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
First Election. - There were nineteen votes re- corded at the first election, namely: Malilon Meeker, Andrew Race, Joel Osgood. Joseph Zerbe. Nathaniel Edgerton, A. D. Edgerton, Abner Charles, James Maginnis, John Wilson, David Dewitt, William Dewitt. Jacob Stauffer. David Maginnis, Joshua Wood. Henry Walker, William G. Charles, Joseph Dewitt, joseph A. Sargent and Elisha Martindale. In October following. when twenty votes were cast, the names of Eli Manville, John Wood. Stephen Ward. Jacob Outkelt, W. C. Hunter, Christopher Stright and Leonard Pierce, with many of the older voters. appear as voters, bringing the number, in 1835, up to twenty-six. David Maginnis, Joseph De-
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witt and Jacob Stauffer are said to have been chosen trustees, but there is nothing of record to show this beyond the fact that they were judges of election.
Justices of the Peace .-- The justices of the peace who have qualified since fune, 1836, are named in the following list: Henry Walker, 1836 and 1839; Joshua Wood, 1839; Joseph A. Sargent, 1840; Sylvanus Hatch, 1842; James Maginnis, 1843; Gideon Thomas, 1846; S. W. St. John, 1846 and 1850; Peleg G. Thomas, 1848, rcsigned October, 1851, requalified December 8, 1851; R. C. Comstock, 1851; M. B. Tracy, 1854-57; J. D. Smith, 1855; S. W. St. John, 1860, 1863, and 1866; R. C. Comstock, 1862, and continuously until re-elected in 1883: Am- herst Ordway, 1869 and 1872; Samuel W. Clay, 1874 and 1877: W. A. Benschoter, 1880; Samuel Case, 1883; Nathan D. Patterson, 1886 and 1889, resigned in 1891; William Ewing, 1886 and 1889; Abel Comstock, 1890 and 1893: J. P Battles, 1891 and 1894, and Christopher Lehman, 1893, resigned in July, 1893.
Clerks .- The clerks of the township, so far as documents and records show, were: A. D. Edger- ton, 1842; Samuel Clark, Jr., 1845; N. W. Min- ton, 1853; Sylvanus Hatch, 1855; J. J. Parsons, 1857; George N. Parsons, 1858; D. Cargo, 1860; H. G. Condit, 1862; D. Cargo, 1863; W. Pow- ers, 1864; D. Cargo, 1865; J. D. Bolles, 1871; D. Cargo, 1873; W. M. Leaming, 1874; Guy C. Nearing, 1875; H. H. Collins, 1876; W. H. Smith, 1877; W. M. Leaming, 1879; Abel Com- stock, 1881; and Joseph G. Starn, 1887. I. W. Clayton, the present clerk, was elected in 1894, and re-elected in 1896.
Trustees. -- The names and dates in the follow- ing list are based on signatures to the township levies down to 1880, on a list furnished, from. 1881 to 1894, and on the records of the April elections of 1895.
1843-Joel Osgood, John Whitehead, W. G. Charles.
1844 -Elisha Martindale, Philip Condit, John Whitehead.
1845-John Evers, Peleg G. Thomas, W. G. Charles.
1846 -- Alfred Condit, Peleg G. Thomas, Philip Condit.
1848 -- Joseph A. Sargent, Peleg G. Thomas. Alva Sholes. 1849-William G. Lamb, S. L. Brewster, Francis Maginnis. 1851 -Jacob Minton, John Whitehead, Joshua Carr. 1858-J. R. Tracy, J. M. Lamb, Silas Thomas.
1859-S. W. St. John, R. B. Minton, Silas Thomas. 1860-61 -- S. W. St. John, R. B. Minton, Silas Thomas. 1862-J. W. Woodbury, R. B. Minton, A. Condit. 1863 -J. W. Woodbury. J. R. Tracy, Silas Thomas. 1864 -1. W. Woodbury, John Whitehead, Silas Thomas. 1865 - T. W. Woodbury, A. Condit, IL. G. Condit. 1866 -William Gorrilf, G. W. Matthews, Hugh Cargo. 1867-M. B. Tracy, G, W. Matthews, E. C. Minton. 1868 M. B. Tracy, John Whitehead, E. C. Minton. 1869 Guy C. Nearing, John Whitehead, John Coen. 1870-Guy C. Nearing, N. W. Minton, Myron LeGalley. 1871-72 -- M. B. Tracy, Allen Mckenzie, Le Grand Bishop,
1873-M. B. Tracy, N. B. Patterson, (not named ).
1874-M. B. Tracy, J. O. Avery, D. Skinner.
1875 -G. M. Brown, J. O. Avery, A. Mckenzie.
1876 -- Moses Lane, G. M. Brown, John Clarke.
1877-S. W. St. John, G. M. Brown, John Clarke.
1878 -- Moses Lane, G. M. Brown, J. S. Dalley, Thomas C. Reid, rice Brown.
1879 -M. B. Tracy, G. M. Brown, J. S. Dalley.
1880-M. B. Tracy, Thomas D. Avery, Allen Mckenzie.
1881-Wilson Patterson, S. W. St. John, Allen Mckenzie.
The trustees elected since ; 882 are named as follows: Allen Mckenzie, 1882; Frederick Hart- man, 1883 to 1886; Morgan F. Withrow, 1887 to 1895; Henry Goodenough, 1884: Charles H. Tracy, 1887, re-elected in 1890; John A. Stearns, 1889, 1892; E. H. St. John, 1893; John Hart- man, 1894; Albertus Russell, 1895; and E. H. St. John, 1896.
Treasurers .-- Jacob Minton was treasurer in 1839, and for some years later: while John W. Woodbury was chosen in 1845. The modern treasurers are named as follows: Jay P. Lat- shaw, 1877; John R. Hankcy, 1880; Charles C. Potter, 1889; and Gus. H. Bunkey, 1895.
Assessors. - Isaac Van Tassel, Jr., was elected assessor in 1842; Joseph R. Tracy, in 1844: S. W. St. John, in 1844; and Caleb S. Clark, in 1850; * Nehemiah Ordway, 1877; Ne- hemiah Ordway and Albertus Russell, ISSO; Nehemiah Ordway and Eli Wilson, 1881; Nc- hemiah Ordway, 1884: A. S. Rush and James P. Woodbury, 1886; Nehemiah Ordway and A. E. Battles, 1887; Julius Walker and W. C. Battles, ISS8; C. E. Matthews, D. W. Lowell, E. E. Gundy, and Carl Smith, 1893: A. E. Battles and Carl Smith, 1894: A. E. Battles. Carl Smith, C. E. Matthews and D. H. Lowell, IS95. In 1895, assessor Smith received a majority vote in East Plain. In 1896, E. A. Battles, W. M. Mc- Kenzie, A. Ordway, and D. W. Lowell, were elected.
Board of Education .- In 1896, G. H. Avery, J. H. Shearer, Sandford Low, and G. E. Gill, were elected.
Nitro-Glycerine Explosion .- Were a chapter on tragedies and accidents to be written, Plain township would require very little space. While it has not been entirely free from them, nothing strikingly tragic has been enacted within its pres- ent lines, nor did an accident occur, from March, 1849, down to December 6, 1895, to mar the quiet of the people. On the latter date, the Ohio and Indiana Torpedo Company's Magazine, located on the Fowler farm, Section 35, no less than 520 quarts of the stuff was in store at the time. Where the little building stood, a hole
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eight feet deep and twenty-five feet in diameter is to be seen, a large elm, which stood near, was Pfted mp and fell, with branches downward, while at Bowling Green, two and one-half miles away, windows were broken and buildings +haken. Throughout this and adjoining town- ships, the concussion was felt, and the power of the explosive manifested to many, who heard much of it, but never understood the terrible chemical.
CHURCHES.
The church history of Bowling Green covers, th a measure, that of Plain township. A Meth- odist Episcopal and a Congregational Society were formed prior to the close of IS35, but the members gave much more attention to temporal than to spiritual affairs, for hard times, disap- pointments aud sickness which they experienced, precluded their desire of worship, and partially dalled their religious dispositions. The advance of settlement was so gradual as to be scarcely perceptible, but, nevertheless, from among the small number of pioneers, the ministers of the Gospel, representing the Methodist and Congre- gational denominations, picked out a few earnest men and women and organized them into classes. The Plain Church may be credited as the first society organized in the township, and Carr's Methodist class as the second. It is not known whether the Methodist preachers, named in the chapters on Bloom, Montgomery and Perry town- ships, visited the settlements in Plain, but it is known that, as early as 1836, Rev. Austin Cole- man preached the doctrines of John Wesley at Bowling Green, and in one or more cabins west of the Findlay road.
Plain Congregational Church .- The begin- nings of this branch of the Christian Church. in northwestern Ohio, were made in Plain town- ship, November 27, 1835, by Revs. Joseph Badger, Isaac Van Tassel and Benjamin Wood- bury, of the first part. and Elisha Martindale, Jacob Minton, Nathaniel Edgerton, Mehetabel Woodbury, Philetta Minton and Lydia Edgerton, of the second part. The meeting was held at Jacob Minton's house, near the present Plain church. There Mr. Badger presided as mode- rator, with Mr. Woodbury, scribe, and there the confession of faith and the articles of practice of the Presbyteries of Grand River and Portage were adopted for the guidance of the little Church then formed in the wilderness. When it is said that the articles were adopted, it must be remein- Hered that, instead of the words in the seventh Article, "when he has. not thus elected," the 1
words, "who will not repent," were adopted. The second meeting was held December 5, 1835, when Elliot Warner was chosen scribe. In ad- dition to the members named above, there were received the following named: Martin and Nancy Warner and Clara Martindale. Martin Warner was chosen deacon, and, on the date last writ- ten, the society was fully organized. Eight days after, James Donaldson and Alexander Pugh were recommended for admission, and on Janu- ary 3, 1836, Hannah Maria, Robert W., Nathan W. and William H. Minton were admitted. Ou January 4 a meeting was held at Caleb North's house, "across the prairie," when the owner and his wife Sarah, Mary Black, Warner and Robert Black were admitted. From that time until the close of the year a number of members were enrolled, namely: James and Eliza Jane Hutchinson, Ann Clarke, with Mary P .. Samuel, Jr., Joseph, John and Caleb S. Clarke, John Whitehead and wife, Isaac Van Tassel. Jr., and Phoebe Moore. In April, 1836, the old inter- preter at the mission, named King, was tried for intemperance and suspended. In October, 1836, a Home Missionary Society was organized, to aid the American Home Missionary Society. On March 3, 1837, Edward C. and Louisa M. Mar- tindale, and three members of the Minton fam- ily, with Charles Castner, were examined for admission. In March and April, several were received, among whom were four members of the Black family, Roxanna Woodbury and Mrs. Gatehouse. In the fall of that year. Johnson H. and Mary E. Hobart, Lucia Van Tassel, Samuel Clarke and John E. Jenkins were admitted. On March 2, 1838, the society resolved to build a church, 30 x 44 feet, on the northeast corner of Section 21, and to petition for incorporation. The committee for collecting building funds was not appointed until January, 1839, when neces- sity compelled the members to act in this matter, as Elisha Martindale had suggested that, hence- forth, meetings should be held in the new school building, rather than in his house, as was then the custom. Now, the Methodists by some means claimed the use of the school house for Sabbath meetings, and the Congregationalists were compelled to return to Jacob Minton's house for religious meetings. In the " fifties " such old settlers as John Evers and others be- came members. Rev. Benjamin Woodbury, the first pastor, signed the record. December 7, 18.45, for the last time, and twenty-two days after he died, aged fifty-three years. For over ten years he labored here, and also in Milton, West Mill- grove, Freeport and Swanton, where he gath-
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ered small bodies of worshipers and organized churches. Almost thirty years after his death, or September 9, 1875, a brick building was fin- ished, at a cost of $4,000, near the site of the old one. This, as restored in 1889-90, tells of the progress of the congregation in material wealth. The number of members is now (April, 1895), ninety-four. The clerk, William H. Min- ton, was present at its beginning, but all the others have passed to their reward. The list of pastors contains the following names: Revs. T. P. Emerson, P. C. Baldwin, E. B. Turner, Thornton, Robert . Hovenden, William Irons, John Vetter, S. D. Smith, A. J. Hadley, S. D. Taylor, J. K. Deering, D. Clapp, Edwin Rose, L. Kelsey, William T. Richardson, R. E. Hill, S. B. Beard, Charles Shear, M. Knowles and the present pastor, Samuel Crosby. In April, 1864, this Church ceased to be connected with the Presbytery, and in May, 1865, J. W. Woodbury represented it in the Congregational Conference, held at Mansfield.
Carr's Methodist Episcopal Church dates back to pioneer times. In the scant records found at Portage, and particularly in the books held by Mayor Collin, of Tontogany, mention of this class is made, while in the sketch of the Church at Bowling Green, reference is made to it. At the close of Mr. Barkdull's pastorate, there were twenty-three members in good stand- ing, while the Sabbath-school, called Mt. Pleas- ant or Ridge, was carried on by N. T. Stratton. At the close of the war of the Rebellion, the class comprised R. H. Bullis and wife, Rev. Joshua, Polly, Luke and Martha B. Carr, Caro- line Crandall, Mary Bullis. Martha Campbell, Harriet Conklin . and E. Towne. To-day the class has an active membership and regular services.
Lovett's Grove Seventh-day Adventist Church elected trustees May 3, 1863, Peter F. Ferciot, John Mears and Josepli Ralston being the members elect, with John Clarke, church clerk. Among the members were William R. H. and Betsey H. Avery, J. B. and Adaline Gregory, Ann Mears, Lucy Clarke, Rebecca and Eliza Ferciot, Oliver and Abigail Mears, Sylvestor and Abigail Simons, H. H. and Amelia Van- Camp, Harmon and Polina Gregory, Levi S. Gregory, Caleb S. and Sarah Clarke. By Jan- uary 31, 1864, the sum of $280 was subscribed, the inen gave their labor gratis, and a few of thein contributed material, so that in the fall of that year the present frame house of worship was completed. William Avery was chosen trustee in 1870, vice Joseph Ralston; Oliver Mears, J.
B. Gregory, and H. H. Van Camp, in 1876; J B. Craw, R. A. Boardman and H. H. VanCamp in 1879; James Klopfenstein, in 1881, for five years; H. A. Craw, R. A. Boardman, and W. R. H. Avery. 1887; while in 1889 the last named succeeded John Clarke as clerk of the board of trustees when he, with J. T. Sweet. R. A. Boardman, H. A. Craw and John Craw wert elected trustees. Everett Sweet took his father's place subsequently, while, in 1892, R. A. Board- man was re-elected. Prior to 1863, the Advent- ists heard the message in a frame school build- ing, which stood on W. G. Avery's land. Then, the school house on the Avery and Boardman farms, became the place for meeting, and the worshipers assembled there until 1864. The membership in July, 1895, was sixty-four.
Union Hill United Brethren Society is a branch of the older Center Society. The present church house was erected in 1893. during Rev. G. W. Coss' pastorate, when C. W. Thomas. J. N. Davis, William Smith, J. H. Karns and W. H. Hair were trustees. The constituent mem- bers, in 1891, were J. N. Davis, class-leader, with the trustees named and their wives: Mrs. Seger, Mary Smith, Mrs. Withrow, Philander A. and Jane Stephens, Mrs. Snyder, and Mrs. Kate Knouse. In 1894 W. H. Hair became class- leader, while Jolin Knouse was chosen trustee vice J. H. Karns. There were fifty members re- ported in July, 1895.
The Spiritualist Society, in the Carr neigh- borhood, claimed a large class in the .. seventies." causing the withdrawal of inany members from the Methodist. United Brethren and Congrega- tional Societies of Plain and Bowling Green. The seances and logic of the preachers appeared to several men and women to be reasonable, and. as a result, many who were not entirely satisfied with the older denominational forms, adopted the new.
The Free Methodist Sooicty erected a house of worship, near the corners of Plain, Weston and Washington townships, in 1881, Mr. Adrett being then pastor. That society merged into the Congregational Society sometime after, bringing title to the frame of the building with it. The Consolidated Church sided the house, and plas- tered the interior. Among the members were Henry Finkenbinder, David Porter, Mrs. Conklin. and Mr. Baker and wife. The house ultimately became the properity of the owner of the land.
The Christian Union, organized a few years ago, repaired and refitted up the church building. in 1888, and therein Rev. McBride preached to a small congregation.
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CONCLUSION.
The people of Plain, as shown in the fore- going record, have pursued the even tenor of their way, undisturbed by feuds within their ter- sitory. The tax for building a plank road, caused some commotion, as related in the chap- ter on Roads, Navigation, etc. When the clarion notes of war rang out in April, 1861, patriotism was not sleeping in Plain, for old men as well as
young responded to the summons of the Repub- lic's President, and left home and friends to battle for the Union. The roster and record of the soldiers of Plain are given in the Military chapter. It is in itself a history of which the people of this division of the county may well be proud. In other chapters of general history references are made to this township; while, in the pages devoted to biography, a large number of family sketches are given.
CHAPTER XLII.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP.
POPULATION-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION -- RECORDS -- TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS -- SCHOOLS -- PIONEERS --- LAND BUYERS-VILLAGES; PORTAGE VILLAGE-ITS HISTORY-SCHOOLS-INCORPORATION- OFFICIALS-CHURCHES -- SOCIETIES.
T HIS division of the county was surveyed about the time the surveyors went through Bloom and Liberty. The population, in 1840, was only 199, increased, by 1850, to 403; by 1860, to 833; by 1870, to 1,069; by 18So, to 1,434; and by 1890, to 2, 328.
Township Organisation .- The township, as established December 3, 1832, embraced the territory, now known as Liberty, Henry, Portage, Bloom, Montgomery and Perry townships; but, on March 3, 1833, Perry was detached. Port- age was not organized until July 20, 1833, owing to the fact that the act of establishment did not give satisfaction, and that it had to be reconsid- ered by the commissioners. On June 3, 1833, when all that part of the organized township of Middleton, known as T. 5, N., R. II E., and so much of T. 5, N. R. 10 E., as lies south of the line, dividing Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 from Sections 8, 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13 (or twenty- four sections of Plain township), was set off un- der the name proposed in 1832. On July 20, 1833, the first election was held, John Sargent, Benjamin Cox and Thomas Slight being judges, and Joseph A. Sargent and Joseph Cox, clerks. joseph Cox, Jacob Eberly and John Sargent re- Ceived 16, 14 and 15 votes, respectively, for trustees, and were declared elected. John B. Mcknight was elected clerk; Collister Haskins, treasurer; Thomas Slight, constable; Benjamin Cox and John Gallatin, overseers of the poor; George Mercer, supervisor; Adam Phillips re-
ceived 6 votes for fence-viewer; Joseph A. Sar- gent, 9; Peter Johnson. 13; Thomas Cox, II; and John M. Jaquis, 3. The electors, outside the men named, were George Heminger, Jacob Phillips and Charles McLain, so that all the voters, with three exceptions, were candidates for office.
Records .- The record books of the township, in possession of the clerk, date back to 1880, as minute books of trustees, and to 1873. as minute books of the school board. From the county records, however, the names of justices of the peace, from 1834 to 1895, were obtained, and, from documents in the auditor's office, the names of trustees and clerks. A thorough search in the township and village of Portage resulted in the discovery of school minutes from 1856 to 1872, and of trustees' records from 1865 to 1872, with three miscellaneous record books. They were discovered by Mrs. Hill, while other valuable books relating to Portage and Liberty were held from the destroyer by Mrs. Norris. From all available, authentic sources the following dates and names of township officials were obtained:
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Trustees .- In 1841, James H. Scott and William De Witt are named as trustees; in IS48. William Prescott, David Cook and William De- Witt; in 1849, Nathan Minard was elected, vice Cook, and with Johnson and Prescott formed the board in 1850; in 1853, John McCrory, vice
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' Prescott; in 1854, John Johnson and David Cook were chosen; in 1858, John Johnson, Jacob Danterman and William Graham; and, in 1859, Aaron S. Dresser was elected, vice Graham, while John Johnson was re-elected in 1860. The trustees, elected from 1863 to 1878, were S. L. Sargent, J. Z. Smith and J. G. Patterson, 1863; Jacob Dauterman, Lewis Long and T. J. Vos- burg, 1864; James Teller, A. L .. Stevens and Jacob . Dauterman, 1865-66; Lewis Long, T. J. Vosburg and James Teller, 1867; Jonas Hamp- shire, elected vice Long, in 1868; T. J. Vosburg, James Teller and Lewis Long, 1869, 1870 and 1871; Jacob Dauterman, with Vosburg and Teller, 1871 and 1872; Teller, Long and Vos- burg, in 1873-74; Teller, Long and Geo. Hamp- shire, in 1875-76; Andrew Welton: William Caris and S. Wilcox, in 1877; John Miller served in 1878, but, resigning in November, John Shoup was appointed, and with J. C. Eberly and Miller, re-elected, served until April, 1879. The elec- tions since that time resulted in the choice of the following named citizens as trustees: 1879, J. C. Eberly, R. P. Hillard, G. P. Gorton; ISSO-SI, John Johnston, Thomas W. Knight, Sr., R. P. Hillard; 1882, Thomas W. Knight, Sr., Nathan Morse, C. Ensminger; 1883, John Johnston, Jr. Reuben Hillard, Nathan Morse; 1884, John John- ston, Jr., Wilson Solether, John Troxell, Dr. T. W. Knight, vice Solether; 1885, George W. Stearns, John Troxell, John Johnston; 1886, J. W. Cole. John Johnston, B. Odell.
In 1887, B. Odell was elected for a term of three years; in 1888, A. J. Schauweker; in 1889, Philip McCrory; Daniel Mears appointed, vice Schauweker, August 30, 1889; in 1890, Lewis Shinew, George Hampshire, William Musser; in 1891, William Musser; in 1892, Daniel Mears, Jr. ; in 1893, Lewis Shinew, James Teatsworth, vicc William Musser, resigned; in 1894, Jacob Spockey, and in 1895, Daniel Mears, Jr .; 1896, James Teatsworth.
Justices. - The justices were John Sargent, 1834; John Groves, 1834; John B. McKnight, 1835, resigned in 1837; John Cox, 1837; Nathan Minard, 1839-42-48-51; Joseph Cox, 1840; Francis Carothers, 1841; James B. Scott, 1846 (did not qualify); Bailey Clough, 1847-51; James McFadden, 1850 to 1859; Henry Van- Schuter, 1855: Samuel Johnson, 1855: Joseph P. Bisbee, 1858 (did not qualify); N. L. Besan- son, 1859 and 1889; J. P. Bisbee, 1861. 1864, to 1882; Eli Phillips, 1863; Robert McMahan, 1865; B. N. Gibson, 1866; Robert McMahan. 1868 to 1880; R. G. Palter, 1872; Daniel Mears, 1383, '86; Henry Thrailkill, 1885, 1888 (died in 1890);
Philip Spackey, 1890; Thomas C. McEwen, 1890, died early in 1894; Nathan L. Besanson, 1892; Daniel Mears, Sr., 1894; WV. A. Est- erly, 1895; A. T. Hickerson was chosen in 1894 to serve until 1897.
Clerks .-- John B. McKnight appears to have served as clerk until the fall of 1835. The next incumbent was William Mercer, who served until 1844, when Elisha Hanson was elected. A. B. Sayler served as clerk the same year: William Mercer was elected in 1846; Bailey Clough. in IS48; James McFadden, in 1851 ; A. Van Blar- cum, in 1858; N. L. Besanson, 1860: Elliott Eberly, 1863; Robert McMahan, 1865-72: S. P. Harrison, 1873; Robert McMahan, 1874: C. C. Soule, 1875; John Halsey, 1876-80; Andrew Welton, appointed in March, 1882; Thomas W. Knight, Jr., 1882; N. L. Besanson, 1883; and John Johnston, Jr., 1894, re-elected 1896.
Treasurers. - Collister Haskins, the first treasurer, was succeeded by Jacob Eberly, who served until 1852, when John H. De Witt was elected. Collister Haskins was re-elected in 1853, and served until 1862, when John Johnston was elected. Jacob Eberly served from 1864 to 1873; D. Housley was elected in 1873: D. S. Boyd, 1875; Jonas Hampshire, 1878; Robert Miller, 1880; L. N. Lembrich, 1886; Andrew A. Ensminger, 1888; and L. N. Lembrich, the pres- ent (1889) treasurer.
Assessors .- William Mercer, who was asses- sor in 1842, is said to have held the office for some years before, James H. Scott succeeding him in 1844, and Wiliam DeWitt, elected in 1848, served some years; Darwin Weaver, 1865: E. A. Wilson, 1868; Lewis Dienst, 1873: Daniel Mears, 1877-83; Erastus Musser, 1883; J. F. Wollam, 1885, William A. Esterly, 1886; Will- iam Caris, 1888; William A. Esterly, ISSO to '94; W. A. Esterly, D. C. Whitehead and Fred W. Lembrich, 1894: F. W. Lembrich, A. J. Hickerson and J. H. Kuhlman, 1895; N. W. Wirebaugh, Nathan Morse and A. J. Hicker- son, 1896.
In 1872, a petition was presented to the trustees of Portage, asking them to call an elec- tion to vote for and against the appropriation of $12, 500 aid to the Columbus & Toledo Railroad Co. Teller, Long and Vosburg, the trustees, granted the petition, but in the record book, found in the marshal's house, at Portage, there is no record of the vote.
School Trustees. - In 1896 the school trustees of Portage township were Nathan Morse, L. N. Lembrich, Thomas Shinew, G. W. Simmons. W. H. Plantz, William Caris, Harvey Bateson,
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
A. L. Pollard, John Vosburg, William Hagamire, and George Shiple.
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